12-01-2010: 3D Systems introduced the ProJet HD 3000plus
Ultra-precise 3D printer based on MultiJet Printing (MJP) technology.
On December 1, 2010, at the EuroMold trade show, 3D Systems unveiled the ProJet HD 3000plus, an enhanced version of its earlier ProJet HD 3000 model. This upgraded version featured several significant technical improvements, including higher print resolution and a larger build area. The machine utilized MultiJet Printing (MJP) technology, which was comparable to the PolyJet process developed by the Israeli company Objet (now part of Stratasys). This similarity had sparked a patent conflict dated back to 2004.
MJP technology worked by jetting resin layer by layer using precise print heads and curing it with UV light. This allowed the creation of models with layers as thin as 16 microns in Ultra High Definition (UHD) mode, significantly improving the quality and accuracy of printed parts compared to the previous model, which had a minimum layer thickness of 29 microns. Additionally, the device offered two printing modes—HD (High Definition) and UHD—allowing users to balance production speed and precision according to their needs.
Compared to the ProJet HD 3000, the "plus" version provided a larger build area of 298 x 185 x 203 mm in HD mode and the capability to produce parts using more advanced materials from the VisiJet series. Moreover, the use of wax supports allowed for easy removal, even from the most complex geometries.
The ProJet HD 3000plus gained recognition in applications such as prototyping, form and fit analysis, and the production of precise jewelry models. Production of this model ended in 2015, replaced by the ProJet MJP 3600. The new generation of devices was more efficient, offering greater production capabilities and support for a broader range of materials.
MJP technology mirrored Objet's PolyJet process, with subtle differences. The two companies clashed over the rights to this technology in court. In November 2004, 3D Systems filed a lawsuit against Stratasys and Objet Geometries, alleging that certain PolyJet products distributed by Stratasys on behalf of Objet infringed 3D Systems' patent rights.
Objet countersued, claiming that 3D Systems' ProJet series printers infringed its material jetting patents. In response, 3D Systems filed a countersuit, asserting that Objet's Connex printers violated its intellectual property. These legal battles lasted several years and were eventually settled out of court, though the details of the agreements remain confidential.
Source: www.globenewswire.com